Only one week after racing in Belgium, Formula One racing action continued at the Hungaroring for the FORMULA 1 LENOVO HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 2025. This year marked the 40th anniversary of F1 racing at the circuit.
It was an even start on the front row, but Lando Norris had the best start from P3. He cut across to the inside on the long run to the first corner, but there was nowhere to go, and he lost position to George Russell and Fernando Alonso, dropping to P5. Norris recovered the position from Alonso on the third lap, but could not get by Russell in the opening stint.
Max Verstappen was the driver to watch in the opening laps, starting from out of position in P8. Some bold moves in the chicane provided some entertainment for fans. He eventually got stuck behind Gabriel Bortoleto, who was having a great race after his highest-ever qualifying result. Verstappen was the first of the top ten to pit for new tyres on lap 18.
Piastri dove into the pits on the following lap, attempting to undercut Leclerc. A blazing pit stop at McLaren did its part to make that possible. Ferrari responded the following lap, having an equally quick pit stop to cover off the threat from McLaren. Piastri managed to gain about a second.
Pitting so early locked the drivers who pitted into a two-stop strategy. Norris’ side of the pit wall decided to gamble on the alternate one-stop strategy. He extended his stint until lap 31.
Leclerc was the first of the leaders to make his second pit stop on lap 40. He was furious with his team about a car setup change, suggesting his chances of a podium finish were ruined. Piastri extended his second stop until lap 46, focusing more on challenging his teammate later in the race than fighting Leclerc.
Critical in the battle with his teammate, Norris was only stuck at restricted pace behind Russell for a single lap before the Mercedes driver peeled into the pit lane for his second stop.
Leclerc’s prediction about losing a podium position came true in the final stint of the race. On fresher tyres, Piastri easily sailed past the Ferrari around the outside of the first corner five laps after having made his pit stop. Leclerc quickly fell under pressure from Russell. Leclerc gave everything to defend against Russell’s overtake attempts in the first corner, but Russell eventually managed to squeeze his way past. Leclerc had given a bit too much in his defence against Russell, earning himself a five-second penalty for moving under braking, although the penalty would not impact the results.
In the closing laps, focus was on the two McLarens, who were battling for the lead. The battle came to a head on the penultimate lap when Piastri attempted a very late lunge into the first corner. He locked up, nearly slamming into the rear of his teammate. Piastri couldn’t make another overtake attempt on the final lap, being forced to settle for P2.
The Hungarian Grand Prix makes the fourth consecutive 1-2 finish for McLaren this season on their route to winning both World Championship titles. It was a special one for McLaren, earning their 200th grand prix victory. Russell stood alongside the McLaren duo on the podium.
Everyone will have an opportunity for some much-needed rest as Formula One enters its summer break. After the mandatory two-week shutdown, racing will resume at Zandvoort for the penultimate Dutch Grand Prix. The action will restart on the weekend of August 31.
| Pos. | Driver | Laps | Time | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70 | 1:35:21.231 | 25 | ||
| 2 | 70 | +0.698 | 18 | ||
| 3 | 70 | +21.916 | 15 |  | |
| 4 | 70 | +42.560 | 12 | ||
| 5 | 70 | +59.040 | 10 | ||
| 6 | 70 | +66.169 | 8 | ||
| 7 | 70 | +68.174 | 6 | ||
| 8 | 70 | +69.451 | 4 | ||
| 9 | 70 | +72.645 | 2 | ||
| 10 | 69 | +1 Lap | 1 | ||
| 11 | 69 | +1 Lap | |||
| 12 | 69 | +1 Lap | |||
| 13 | 69 | +1 Lap | |||
| 14 | 69 | +1 Lap | |||
| 15 | 69 | +1 Lap | |||
| 16 | 69 | +1 Lap | |||
| 17 | 69 | +1 Lap | |||
| 18 | 69 | +1 Lap | |||
| 19 | 69 | +1 Lap | |||
| DNF | 48 |
| 1 | O. Piastri | 284 |  | |
| 2 | L. Norris | 275 | -9 | |
| 3 | M. Verstappen | 187 | -97 | |
| 4 | G. Russell | 172 | -112 | |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 151 | -133 | |
| 1 | McLaren | 559 | | |
| 2 | Ferrari | 260 | -299 | |
| 3 | Mercedes | 236 | -323 | |
| 4 | Red Bull | 194 | -365 | |
| 5 | Williams | 70 | -489 | |
